Wayward guide pleads to wildlife charge

CORCOVA — A Wasilla big-game guide won’t serve jail time, but will have to pay $500 and complete two years of probation after pleading guilty to guiding outside his use area.

Peter Barela, 49, is owner and operator of Barela’s Alaskan Outfitters. He entered his plea Aug. 9 in Cordova District Court to the single charge. In return for his plea, Barela received a 30-day jail sentence with all 30 days suspended, and was fined $2,500 with $2,000 of the fine suspended.

He also had his registered guide license suspended, but stayed pending successful complete of probation, which runs through Aug. 9, 2015.

According to an Alaska State Troopers report, the case against Barela evolved from an investigation that showed Barela and an assistant guide, Kale Trangmoe, collaborated to conduct a wolf hunt with a non-resident client in a Game Management Unit they knew Barela was not registered to guide.

In the course of the illegal hunt, troopers say Trangmoe also shot and killed a wolverine while employed by Barela.